1. What is a Cloud Engineer？

Cloud technology allows companies to store and back up data more easily. Software updates can also be made on demand and customers are able to access their information using different devices. Cloud engineers are IT specialists who build and maintain cloud computing applications and infrastructure. You will be working behind the scenes as a cloud engineer to maintain these systems. Cloud engineers design and build IT infrastructures for businesses. They also establish cloud services to speed up and scale operations.

2. Cloud Engineer responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of a cloud engineer involve performing a variety of tasks on a daily basis. The responsibilities of a cloud engineer include, but are not limited to: assessing the security of an enterprise's network and the possible risks, uploading the enterprise's business information to the cloud computing platform and establishing a simple data retrieval mechanism, keeping abreast of the progress in the field of cloud computing, and providing the best cloud computing solutions for enterprises and customers, maintaining and storing the company's data information through cloud computing, working with network security and IT personnel to jointly solve problems related to cloud application failures or security vulnerabilities, creating and installing cloud computing solutions according to the requirements of customers or employers, automating specific system operations to improve efficiency and speed, developing, building and implementing cloud-based modular applications, regularly evaluating computer systems and providing performance enhancement recommendations, etc.

3. Career Insights: Salary, Outlook & Related Roles

(1) Cloud Engineer Salary

ZipRecruiter estimates that the average hourly wage of cloud engineers in the United States will be $62.89 on April 28, 2025. Hourly wages for cloud engineers can range anywhere from $87.26 to $23.56. However, most salaries are between $53.61 and $71.63 in the 25th percentile. Cloud engineers' average salaries can vary widely (up 18%). This means that there are many opportunities to advance and increase pay depending on the skill level, location and years of experience.

(2) Job Outlook of Cloud Engineer

Cloud computing has a bright future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, cloud computing employment is expected to grow 15% between 2023 and 2033. This represents a faster-than-average growth in jobs. Each year, 356,700 additional job openings are predicted. This growth is driven by the increasing use of cloud services in businesses and the need for better ways to manage and analyze data.

(3) Similar Occupations

• Cloud Architect
• DevOps Engineer
• DevOps Engineer
• Cloud Systems Engineer
• Cloud Consultant
• Software Engineer
• Systems Administrator
• Data Engineer
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Computer and Information Systems Manager
• Cloud Administrator

4. How to Become a Cloud Engineer？

(1) Obtain a Bachelor's Degree

The majority of positions require candidates to have a Bachelor's Degree or higher. A reputable university will give you an edge in the job market. The applicant should have a degree in a related field, such as cloud computing or information technology.

(2) Develop professional skills

Cloud engineers should have a deep understanding of Linux server architecture, maintenance and management, cloud database management capabilities, and master related technologies such as MySQL and Hadoop. At the same time, they should also have solid general programming skills and be familiar with mainstream programming languages ​​such as SQL, Java, Python, Ruby, Golang, PHP and .NET.

In addition, cloud engineers also need to understand virtual networks and general network management functions, be proficient in containerization tools, have practical experience with Docker and Kubernetes, and be able to deploy and run applications in virtual machine environments.

Besides, as cloud security gradually becomes the focus of service providers, cloud engineers should also have the ability to plan security policies according to the needs of service providers.

Finally, in terms of web services and application programming interfaces (APIs), cloud engineers should understand common open standards such as XML (Extensible Markup Language), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), WSDL (Web Services Description Language) and UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration), and master the design principles and implementation methods of APIs.

(3) Earn Industry Certifications

When applying for infrastructure engineer positions, it is helpful to obtain certain certifications as they can help you develop the key skills and knowledge required for the position and make your resume more noticeable to employers.Earning a recognized certification in the IT field helps employers recognize you as a qualified candidate.CCIE Data Center certification demonstrates your advanced skills in planning, designing, deploying, operating, and optimizing complex data center networks. Maximize the potential of a better connected world with the Cisco Certified Internet Expert (CCIE) Data Center certification.